The American philatelist

Or/

LITERARY NUMBER

VOL. XXIII

MAY. 1910

NUMBER 3

Cfye Ctmencan
philatelist

CONTENTS

Editorial : page

Progress 1

The Convention Habit. 2

The World's Greatest Stamp Errors 4

American Expansion and Philately (Concluded) 10

The Blueing of the Penny Reds of Great Britain 13

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VOL. XXIII

MAY, 1910

NO. 3

EDITORIAL

PROGRESS In the second number of
the Quarterly, Vol. XXIII,
No. 2, of The American Philatelist, the
membership were taken behind the
scenes and given an idea of what is go-
ing on during the "working hours" of the
Society between conventions. In that
visit, there were some matters that had
to be merely glanced at, but it was inti-
mated that at another time it would be
of interest to note what the Philatelic
Index Committee were weaving into
shape; in harmony with which thought
the following letter, from the chairman
of that committee, and which is self ex-
planatory, is presented:
Mr. H. N. Mudge,

President of A. P. S., Chicago.
Dear Sir: —

In order to place before the Society
some idea of the method on which the
"Index" which your committee has been
at work upon, is compiled, we give here-
with a list of the general subjects under
which the references are given for any
one country:

Subject Headings.
(Gen) — General, includes all general re-
ferences.
Beginners — Includes all articles, etc., for

beginners.
Bisected — Includes Split Provisionals.
Collection — Includes all articles on Col-
lection.

Collecting — Includes all articles on Col-
lecting.

Commemorative Issues — Includes all ar-
ticles on Jubilee Issues.

Curiosities — Includes all articles not in-
cluded under Minor Varieties.

Envelope Stamps — Includes all articles
on Entires.

Errors.

Essays.

Forgeries.

Hand Stamps.

History. .

Locals.

Manufacture of Stamps.

Minor Varieties — Includes all articles on
Varieties (Die, Type, etc.).

Miscellaneous — .Includes all articles gen-
eral in themselves but pertaining more
or less to stamps.

Newspaper Stamps.

Official Stamps— Numbers issued.

Paper.

Penny Postage.

Perforations.

Plates.

Plate Numbers,
^rtraits on Stamps.

Postal Fiscals — Includes articles on Rev-
enues used for Postage.

Postal History.

Postal Rates.

Postal Service.

Post Cards.

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

Postmarks — Includes all articles on Can-
cellation.
Post Office.
Post Office Reports.
Prices.

Railway Stamps.
Re-Engraved Stamps.
Registered Letter Stamps.
Reprints.
Repudiated — Includes all articles on De-

monitized, Obsolete, etc.
Revenue Stamps — Includes all articles on

Fiscals.
Shades.

Special Delivery Stamps.
Stamps of.

Stamps of, Notes on.
Value of Stamps.
Specialism.
Surcharges.
Telegraph Stamps.
Uncatalogued Varieties.
Wrappers.

Of course in certain countries other
headings must be added, viz., "United
States," Department Stamps, Grilled
Stamps, etc. As far as possible the above
headings have also been used for general
articles throughout the work.

General Plan of Index.
UNITED STATES, (Gen)— LP XVIII (08)
281; PS (L) II (08) 97-157; GSW IX
340.
Adhesive Stamps, An Explanatory Cat-
alogue of (Capen C) PtOf IV (94-5)
89-105-121-137-153-169, V(95-6) 6-13.
Adhesive Stamps, C. for A. C. (Collins
& Callman) AmJP (2) XI (98) 1-41-
89-137-221-261-303-347-391-429-479.
Carrier Stamps, (Gen) MWSN XXII
(08) 294; (Roselle, L. D.) CLed IV
(88-9) 160.
Carrier Stamps, Charleston, SL (L) II

(09-0) 15.
Department Stamps, PWor (L) I

(08-9) 90.
Department Stamps, Errors, PR (L)

XXX (08) 196.
The name of the country to be in capi-
tals, subject in italics, rest of title in
regular type.

Yours very truly,

(Signed) W. R. RICKETTS.

The purpose for which the Philatelic
Committee exists is clearly enough set
forth in Sec. 13, Art. Vlf, of our by-laws;
but for the information of many of our
members who have joined the Society in
recent years, and to refresh the memor-
ies of some of the older stockholders, the
following will be of interest concerning
it:

The publication of an index of phila-
telic literature by the American Phila-
telic Society first took definite shape at
the convention at Springfield, Mass., in
1902; the desirability of the matter being
there discussed and officially sanctioned
by vote, as shown in the Society's "Year
Book" for that year. Subsequent Year
Books reveal that the next year it was
incorporated in the by-laws in the shape
in which it now stands and a report of
progress was made, followed in 1904 by a
statement of work done, since which time
reports, when made at all, have not been
of a nature to throw much light on the
real status of the index.

Hence the above communication from
Mr. Ricketts will, to those interested in
such a work or in the credit of the So-
ciety, be hailed as an indication of real
progress in this field of endeavor, in the
interest of philately and philatelists, to
which the Society has so long stood com-
mitted; particularly as, in its proper
time and place, it will be shown that
much more progress has been made than
the foregoing letter suggests.

H. N. MUDGE.

THE One of the objects of

CONVENTION our Society as set forth
HABIT in its articles of incor-

poration is "to cultivate
a feeling of friendship among philate-
lists." The other objects are all well
enough in their way, and possibly appeal
more directly to the majority of our
members, but to me the above has al-
ways been one of the strongest attrac-
tions. The true collector is a social in-
dividual, and always likes to meet others
who are interested in his particular hob-
by, and to compare notes with them con-

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

3

ceruing their pets. Prior to the organi-
zation of our society, collectors in this
country had but little in common with
those outside their own locality, except
by correspondence and occasional visits
to the large cities, where they seldom
stopped long enough to get fully in touch
with their brother collectors. Local so-
cieties flourished to be sure but they did
not satisfy. Personally, I knew not more
than half a dozen collectors or dealers
outside my own city except by corres-
pondence until at the Chicago convention
of 1887 I came in contact with philate-
lists from eight or nine states, some
score or more in number, with whom I
had never met although in correspond-
ence with one at least for ten years.
From that day to this, I count it a loss
when I am not able to be present at the
annual gatherings and to renew my old
friendships and to commence new.
Tiffany, Wolsieffer, Bradt, the Mekeels,
Krauth, Rode, Johnson, Bartels, Batchel-
der, Caiman, Sterling, Scott, and many
others are among those whose acquaint-
ance are due to the annual gatherings of
our society. Now it may be impossible
to attend these conventions with regu-
larity but go when you can, and make it
a point to make an extra effort to go as
often as circumstances will permit. At
the last convention there were about one
hundred persons in attendance, repre-
senting twenty states, and among them
were at least forty whom I had never met
before. At the gathering in Detroit this
summer there will undoubtedly be fully

as large a number, and while we shall
miss many whom we met at Atlantic City
we shall see others who were not there.
And so it goes. Some new friends made
every year. Some new bits of philatelic
lore picked up, or some new specimens
added to our collections. Rumor says
we are to have an exhibition of stamps
at the convention this year. If so, that
in itself will be well worth going for.
Whether there is a formal exhibit or not,
many an attendant will have a "few
things" in his pocket to flash on us, as
Charles Mekeel did the major part of the
great Louisville find of St. Louis stamps
at the Clayton convention. I have never
quite gotten over the effect of having
them passed over to me as quietly as if
they were a lot of fifty per cent discount
stuff with the remark "Perhaps you
would like to see these."

From its central location Detroit
should draw a goodly number from both
the West and the East. Make up your
mind now, those of you who read these
lines, that you will be on hand to enjoy
the good things General Coolidge told us
were in store for us. After the conven-
tion is over, you will be surprised how
much more interest you will take in your
collecting, and in the Society, through
your recollections of acquaintances made
on the occasion. If you are a stranger
to the writer hunt me up and introduce
yourself, for I not only want to know
you all, but will take pleasure in intro-
ducing you to others.

WM. C. STONE.

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

THE WORLD'S GREATEST STAMP ERRORS.

By Alvin Good.

Since that memorable day on which the Garfield-Perry Stamp Club celebrated
the Twentieth Anniversary of its organization, I have been requested by many
philatelists to write an article describing the "Worlds' Greatest Stamp Errors," as
illustrated on the souvenir menu card presented to those attending the banquet on
the above occasion; but never having done anything in the way of philatelic
journalism (or any other kind for that matter) it was with much reluctance that I
consented to pen these few notes.

Of course my description of these errors will simply consist of what has been
published and republished in years gone by in various journals and catalogues.

In casting about for something unique which could be used as a suitable
souvenir for those attending the above mentioned affair, the Committee had almost
dispaired of being able to furnish something in the philatelic line which would at
least equal the souvenir used at the 19th Annual Banquet, and it was just by
chance that the writer in rummaging through his desk came across two pages
clipped from the London Philatelist, probably in 1904, in which there appeared an
article by the editor entitled "The Rarest Stamp Errors," which was a review of
several articles on the same subject which appeared in the Stamp Collector. The
Illustriertes Briefmarken Journal, and various other journals as regards the approxi-
mate degree of rarity of stamps with inverted centres and errors of color. The
writers of the above mentioned articles appended a list of errors in the order they
-should be placed, according to their opinion. I noted with a great deal of pleasure
that Mr. Worthington possessed most of these errors, and therefore the idea of a
souvenir menu card at once presented itself.

As there appears to be but little difference of opinion 'n the first fourteen
stamps of the lists referred to above, I reproduce it, but also with a few slight
changes, the most noticeable of which is that I have eliminated the U. S. 1901
inverts and inserted the 15c 1869 Inverted centre:

1. Spain, 1851 2R Blue.

2. Austria 1867, 3kr red,

3. Baden, First Issue, 9kr Green,

4. Western Australia 4d blue, Swan Inverted,

5. Spain, 1876, 25m blue & rose, Inverted Frame,

6. South Australia, 1870 4d blue with sur. "3 Pence." omitted,

7. Saxony 1851, y2 ngr. Blue,

8. U. S. 30c 1869, Inverted Centre,

9. India 1854, 4a Inverted Frame,

10. Cape of Good Hope, 3d blue Woodblock,

11. Cape of Good Hope, 4d red Woodblock,

12. Finland 1891, 3R 50K Yellow & Black, •

13. U. S. 1869 15c, Inverted Centre,

14. U. S. 1869 24c, Inserted Centre.

I will not use up any space in discussing the relative degree of rarity of the
above list, as my article has most to do with the errors on the Souvenir Card. In
this photo are four stamps which come a little further down on the list, but never-
theless they are very interesting and curious, and for that reason were illustrated
along with those of a greater degree of rarity, viz.: St. Helena 6d red without

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

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surcharge "ONE PENNY;" Philippine Islands 1855 1R "Corros;" Sweden 1872 "Tretio
Ore" instead of "Tjugo Ore;" and Russia 18S2 14 k blue and rose, centre inverted.
Western Australia 1854, 4d, "Inverted Swan."
This is one of the most famous of Australian Stamps, and one of the rarest
stamps in the world. The position of this variety is probably the first stamp of the
eighth row in each pane of sixty. The Philatelic Record for March gives the most

6 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

complete and latest theory regarding this error. 1 quote from it the following:

"Mr. Bacon's theory was that it was the frame and not the swan that was
"inverted. When pasting on the transfers of the central portion of the design, the
"workmen would not fail to notice if one was upside down. It would be quite another
"matter with the borders. The lettering was small and it would be a very easy thing
"to make a mistake. Assuming this theory to be correct there would have to be at
"least four Inverted Frames on the entire sheet, as it was made up of four transfers
"from the group of sixty in which the error occurred; and this would mean that four
"impressions would have to be removed from the stone, and new transfers laid on
"in their place. The other alternative would be to correct the error on the original
"group of sixty, and place four new transfers from the whole sixty on a clean stone.
"The latter process would mean a great deal more work, and careful examination of
"the entire sheet seemed to prove the former plan was adopted."

South Australia 1870, 4d Blue, without surcharge "3 Pence."

This Provisional was issued in August, 1870, and was first surcharged "3-Pence"
in red (only one printing) and afterwards in black. It is possible that the error is
due to want of care in "feeding" the sheets into the surcharging press, and that
either the top or bottom row escaped the over-print. I have seen interesting illus-
trations of similar errors which occurred in this manner in the stamps of Cape of
Good Hope, St. Helena and Hawaiian Islands. I understand that only about six copies
of this South Australia error exist, two used and four unused ones; hence they must
be very rare.

Cape of Good Hope 1861, 1d Blue, 4d Red, Woodblock.

I think it best to quote word for word the article which appeared in Vol. 5, No. 2
of The Postage Stamp, which I think is about the most interesting history of these
stamps I have ever read:

"It reads like a fairy tale, but it has often been recorded how Mr. E. S. Gibbons—
"sackful of 'triangular Capes,' about two millions of them, including hundreds of the
"sackful of 'triangular Capes' about two millions of them, including hundreds of the
"so-called 'woodblocks.' The normal copies of these latter were sold at 3s to 10s a
"dozen, and the above errors at 4s to 15s each. Nowadays the prices run from £3
"for the 4d pale blue, to £85 for a copy of the same value in vermillion. It is almost
"needless to say that the errors are very rare.

"Early in 1861 there was a shortage of these two values, and Messrs. Saul Solo-
"mon & Co., of Cape Town, were instructed to provide a supply. They engraved
"a separate steel block for each value, and from each of these the necessary number
"(64; of stereos was taken to form a plate; but inadvertently the last stero to be
"mounted on the wooden base was in both cases of the wrong value — a One Penny
"with the Four Pence, and vice versa.

"According to official information, there were not issued more than 201 of the
"One Penny Error, and 386 of the Four Pence error; but there is no reliable record
"as to how many sheets were actually printed. It would seem that the official figures
"of 24,660 of the One Penny and 12,840 of the Four Pence are much under-estimated,
''unless we are to assume that Mr. Gibbons' famous sack contained a much greater
"proportion of the actual issue than has in most cases survived to modern times
"from the early days of philately.

"The Four Pence is known unused— one copy, only, which fetched £500 at auc-
"tion— and used in singles and se tenant with the One Penny; and the One Penny
"has been found in used condition only, in singles and in pairs with the Four Pence.
"The lower value is known in two shades (pale- blue and blue) out of the four in
"which the Four Pence is found; and the higher value likewise exists in two shades
"or colors (vermillion and carmine) out of the three of the One Penny."

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 7

These two errors are quite rare and bring good prices when in good condition,
hut when found in a pair se tenant with the normal stamp as per illustration, it is
doubly rare, and few exist in such condition. The Error 4d red in the block of four
is unique, although it is known in a pair similar to the Id blue, but there is no
other block known, moreover, it is in matchless state, being of the very earliest
impression as you will see by the date (March 26, 1861) a month prior to having
been chronicled.

St. Helena, Six Pence Red, without surcharge ONE PENNY.
This stamp was issued in 1863. This is another error similar to the 4d blue
of So Australia, and was no doubt caused in the same manner. I have seen a sheet
of the Six Pence green surcharged "One Shilling," the fifth row from the top was
double surcharged, while the bottom row (or tenth row) had escaped the surcharge
entirely. This would indicate that the surcharge had been set up to cover half a
sheet, but through carelessness in feeding the sheet into the surcharging press the
lower row escaped the over-print.

Saxony 1851, i/2 "9r- Li9"t Blue, instead of grey.
Only 120 of these errors have ever been printed, 63 are said to have been sold
as 2 ngr. stamps and used as such before the mistake was discovered. The remaining
57 were returned to the Department of Finance in Dresden. Thirty-three of these
were said to have been destroyed, and the other 24 have since been in circulation.
There is a block of four in existence; a strip of five was exhibited in London in 1890,
and the majority of the others are probably owned by collectors in Europe. A copy
recently brought £220 at auction.

Finland 1391, 3R 50K Yellow and Black.
The correct color for this stamp is Yellow and Grey, but in some manner a
number were printed in the color of the 7R which is black and yellow. It is said
that only part of a sheet got into circulation. This must be true for the stamp is
very scarce in this country, and had any one been holding back a supply it is almost
certain that they would have appeared by this time. About a year ago I saw a
forgery of this stamp. It was evidently made from the 3%R of Russia, No. 39 in
Scott's catalogue, as the paper was vertically laid instead of horizontally, and had
an additional outer line around the stamp. Whoever made it was an artist with
the brush, and it would have deceived most anyone not familiar with Finland and

Russian stamps.

United States 1869, 15c and 30c Inverted Medallions.

Two theories have been published giving the probable cause for these errors.
For the first I quote from Tiffany's History of the Postage Stamps of the IT. S.:

"The error is not, as is sometimes supposed, an error of printing, but in the
"plate. Two plates, one for each color, had to be used. Originally there were 150
"stamps, as in the smaller values, but upon the plate for printing the picture, it is
"said one picture was reversed, and the error once discovered, the plate was cut
"down to print only 100 stamps, as stated in the circular. It is probable that no
"copies With the error were ever circulated."

Mr. John N. Luff, in his history of our stamps, I think knocks this theory all to
smithers, and to get the full benefit of both sides one should turn to page 112 in
Luff's work. Mr. Luff's theory is, simply a misprint, and in that I believe most of
us agree with him. Most of the copies known are used. A collector in this country
has a block of four of the 24c Inverted Centre, used, and Mr. Luff speaks of a pair
of the same stamp. I know of just one copy of the 15c unused and two copies of
the 30c.

S THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

Philippine Islands 1854, 1R Blue "Corros."

The stamps as issued were line engraved. The sheets show 40 varieties in eight
horizontal rows of five. On the plate of the 1R the first stamp in the sixth row has
"'Corros" in the label instead of "Correos." The error was never corrected and
therefore exists in all the shades of the normal stamp. It therefore should exist over-
printed "Habilitado Por La Nacion" but if so I have never seen a copy or heard
of one. The normal stamp so surcharged is itself a rarity.

Sweden 1872-76, 20o Red, "Tretio."

I again quote from The Postage Stamp in describing this error, Vol. 5, No. 24:
"This is a rare and curious error, of the same kind as the 2 ("zwei ein halb")
"Lubeck. One of the cliches in the plate of the Twenty Ore was accidentally broken
"or damaged, and it became necessary to replace 4t To save time, an old cliche
"of the 30o was used, the central figures being removed and replaced by "20;" but,
"either by mistake or because it was found impossible to make a further alteration,
"the inscription of "Tretio Ore" was allowed to remain — the correct wording for the
"Twenty Ore" is "Tjugo Ore." The stamp is perf. 13.

"I find the position of the error on the sheet described as 'the fourth stamp on
"the fourth row to the left from the top.' Four good forgeries of this stamp have
"been discovered and described."

India, 4 anna Red and Blue, Head Inverted.

The following from the London Society's work on India speaks of this stamp
as follows:

"Although up to the present time it is not definitely known to which printing
"the well-known error, usually called the 'inverted head' variety, belongs, it is toler-
"ably certain that it occurred in one or more sheets of the first arrangement with
"blue dividing lines. Some seven years ago two copies were found on part of the
"original cover, on which was written in pencil, 'December 1854.' (This is described
"and illustrated in The Monthly Journal, Vol. X, p. 167.) It is no positive proof, but
"the evidence was in favor of the supposition that the variety belongs to an early
"printing, and further proof is afforded by the fact that the head in this variety is in
"the first state of the die, and therefore the error must have occurred in either the
"first or second transfers of the setting with the blue dividing lines.

"It is sometimes imagined that the 'inverted head: was a variety occurring once
"in each sheet. This would mean that one of the transfers of the head or of the
"frame was inverted on the stone, but that would be an error which would at once
"be noticed and corrected. It would be quite an easy mistake to place the sheet
"upside down on the stone for the second printing, and the effect of this would be
"that all the stamps on the sheet so treated would show the variety 'inverted head.'
"The above mentioned discovery of two copies on the same cover is additional evi-
dence against the theory of there being only one on each sheet."

Spain, 25m, 1876; Inverted Head.

1 have been unable to obtain any information regarding the history of this
stamp. The work of the London Society does not even mention it, but of course
that work was published a great many years ago. Moen's book merely lists it, but
says nothing about its history. I have a memorandum that there are onlv five copies
known.

Russia, 14k Blue and Rose, Centre Inverted.

Not being able to discover any data on this stamp, I appealed to that storehouse
of information, Mr. John N. Luff, who writes as follows:

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 9

"I have no books about Russian Stamps except one on Russian Rurals, and I do
"not find any remarks in any catalogue. The only thing I can say is that it is well
"known that the Russian Printing Office is extremely careful and that errors of
"this nature are very rare with them. I think it is only in recent years that any
"have been known. If I remember rightly, quite a number of years ago an invert
"was reported in philatelic papers; that the late H. S. Mandel, who has been
"through the Stamp Printing Office in St. Petersburg, insisted it could not exist,
"because their machinery was such it was impossible for any inverted center to
"occur; but it exists just the same."

I regret not being able to present anything of much interest regarding the last
two stamps, and should these notes meet the eye of some one who has the desired
information, I am sure there are a large number of philatelists who would be glad
to hear from him.

10 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

AMERICAN EXPANSION <AND PHILATELY

By Fred J. Melville,

President, Junior Philatelic Society, London.

(Concluded from February Number)

In the United States philatelists have long paid us the compliment of accepting
the lead of Great Britain in regard to the stamps of our own Empire. To a large
extent this may perhaps be attributed to the shrewdness of the philatelic investors.

But in recent years the change from an isolated Republic to an Empire or
Spheres of Influence, or whatever they may be called, reaching from the Philippine
Islands to the Carribbean Sea, and from Alaska to the Isthmus, has given the
American collector an opportunity for working out his own philatelic salvation on
different lines.

The past expansion of the United States present some curious phases of national
policy. The possibilities of future expansion, at one time considered to be limited
by the policy puzzlingly known to us as the Monroe doctrine, are rendered apparently
almost illimitable by the conquest of the Philippines and Puerto Rico. One would
have thought that the responsibilities practically bound to arise in the development
of the famous doctrine would in themselves be so stupendous a task that the energy
of a most virile nation would be taxed to its utmost. But then what the Monroe
doctrine means to one is a very different thing to the construction put upon it by his
neighbor, even within the great Republic.

With regard to many of these political questions which are well calculated to
provide subjects for consideration in American philatelic investments, a mere
Britisher who has but once set foot on United States soil cannot go into deeply. But
the raising of one or two points which seem, at a distance, to hold possibilities for
the investor, may not be unprofitable and may lead to individual thought and
activity along lines approximating to those indicated.

Already the Hawaiian Islands have long been a favorite with the United States
collector. Since 1899 Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Philippines and Guam have no doubt
been invested in with satisfactory results. What the American nation intends ulti-
mately to make of Puerto Rico and the Philippines can only be a matter of specula-
tion to an outsider, but the position seems anomalous to have in a Republic whose
people's proudest boast is that the American flag floats in the "air of Liberty,"
island dependencies which are not free and yet not represented in the Union.

As to Cuba, there are philatelic possibilities here. The United States has given
Cuba its liberty with some generosity. But its generosity has not slackened the tariffs
which keep Cuba out of the American market, and so Cuba free is probably liable to
realize in time that its only chance of becoming Cuba prosperous is to apply for
admission to the Union. In which case Cuba may ultimately use the same stamps
as have for some years been current in the Hawaiian Islands, which became a "terri-
tory" in 1900.

Mexico offers an interesting prospect. It seems almost inevitable that its
j>olitical future should be in the hands of the United States, or at least very largely
influenced by it. Already, many years since it lost half its territory in Texas, now
one of the United States. The United States is on its northern border, and the
Canal Zone is only separated by some inconsiderable Central American Republic on
the South. Cuba under American influence is a key to the gulf on the East, and a

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 11

useful watchdog to ward off European association with Mexico. The country is said
to be filled with Americans, and just so long as the stable government, which has
been due to a solitary but remarkable statesman, can be maintained there is perhaps

little likelihood of change. But after President Diaz ?

In any case the stamps of Mexico present a great field of interesting research
and are deservedly on the increase as regards their popularity with collectors. That
the country itself is one of great promise, whether the fulfillment of the promise be
in the future of the United States or no, makes for philatelic stability and security
of one's investments in the stamps.

The stamps of the Canal Zone must make their way by the sheer force of the
universal importance of the Canal undertaking, provided that there is not too much
of the pandering to collectors in the way of unnecessary issues. The Republic of
Panama itself may not hereafter be the Cinderella of stamp issuing American states
that it at present is.

Possibilities of the extension of United States influence in South America we
cannot enter into here. They will be more readily discerned by the student of
American politics within the Republic. But there are signs of increasing attention
in Great Britain to the States which bear cleaner records financially and philatelically.
It is noteworthy that the records in the money market correspond fairly close to the
records in the philatelic world. A progressive and stably governed country like Chili
enjoys and has long enjoyed the esteem of the collector. The Argentine Republic
and Uruguay are both growing in stampic favor, and it is notable that the former, at
least, is becoming an excellent market for old stamps, notably those associated with
its own country and with the more reputable of its neighbors.

There are other possibilities (equally vague with those referred to in South
America) of the extension of American political interests, which may affect in course
of time the stamp market. In the West Indies Cuba, as has been said, has been
given a freedom, the value of which may be doubted. Puerto Rico is under the
jurisdiction of the U. S. Government. It has been fairly clear that the West Indies
have been under the watchful eye of Washington statesmen by their efforts to acquire
Cuba in the old days by purchase, and other islands from European powers by
similar means, all without success, until the trouble with Spain enabled conquest
to do what wras denied to purchase.

But there languishes in the Caribbean Sea one island whose independence is
little less a sinecure than that of Cuba. Toussaint L' Overture, the liberated slave
who led his fellow negroes against the French, made a savage call to arms which
has surely redounded with dire punition on all his successors in Hayti.

"My children," he cried, "France has come to make us slaves. God gave us
liberty France has no right to take it away. Burn the cities, destroy the harvest,
tear up the roads with cannon, poison the wells, show the white man the hell he

comes to make."

And what a hell the liberated blacks have made of an island of natural charm

and beauty!

The poverty and wretchedness of the bulk of the inhabitants of Hayti w re
brought out forcibly in a recent (British) Consular report. The state of affairs
muct have been considerably aggravated by subsequent cyclonic and seismic dis-
turbances But the real trouble with Hayti is instability of government, revolutions
being the order of the day. So uncertain must be the life of a Haytian government
that one hesitates to write down the name of the President except under the proviso
of "at the time of writing." President Simon, by the latest report, was setting out
on a "peace mission" to induce General Jean Gilles, of the Department of the North,
to hand over the command of a couple of war vessels, about three thousand troous.
and some ammunition. But although this mission may be successful, the Firmimst

12 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

parly is ready to make things warm for President Simon at its first opportunity.
The negroes may be proud to display on their arms, reproduced on their stamps, the
motto "L' Union fait la Force," but the fact remains that they are divided amongst
themselves and that there is no health in them.

Strategically the possession of the island of Hayti (involving the Dominican and
Haytian republics) would appear to be of greatest value to the United States. It
would be a link in the cordon of islands guarding the Mediterranean of the Americas,
and would possibly be an additional protection (.to that afforded by Cuba) to the
Atlantic approach to the Isthmian canal. The United States may not want a broken
and battered possession like Hayti, but it seems quite on the cards that something
must be done before many years have passed to wipe out this blot in a fair sea, and
the United States is perhaps the most interested party, even though it may not be
anxious for the responsibilities involved.

In the event of American intervention in Hayti, the early issues of San Domingo
and the Haytian Republic must come in for a share in the popularity of stamps of
the United States possessions. The issues of the former republic typographed at
San Domingo afford a splendid study for the more advanced collector. The issues
of the Haytian Republic up to 1898 are of great interest, and in the present state
of the market in those stamps there is surely an opportunity for the reconstructor of
plates to set to work and accomplish something without extravagant expense, and
with an excellent prospect of substantial increment. The later philatelic records of
both republics are, we need hardly say, as black as the negroes themselves.

We are aware that we have discussed some subject little comprehended in
Europe but which must be "familiar as household words" to the American citizen.
Our purpose has been to show that there is a field for philatelic enterprise within
the limits of the American continent, and the spheres of influence of the United
States, as great, as fascinating, and in these days of low prices more promising of
financial benefit of the American investor as there is in the avenues through which
much of his time and money has been spent in the past; and above all a field which
is in keeping with an independent nation working out its own future on its own lines.

Finally there are one or two oft-repeated generalities • without which, however,
any discussion of the investment question would be incomplete.

Collect only stamps which are perfect copies, complete in every respect, with the
design well centered between the perforations; or if they are imperforate stamps
should have good margins around the design (where possible). Stamps that have
been through the post should only be selected if cleanly cancelled and not heavily
smudged. Some postal clerks are given to postmarking stamps out of existence from
the collector's point of view.

Old stamps are on the whole better investments than new, though while the old
stamps are the safer for the wealthy there is still security for the collector of modest
means in the issues of recent times.

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 13

THE "BLUEING OF THE PENNY REDS OF GREAT "BRITAIN
Was Mr. H S. Hodson Correct ?

A Paper Read before the Detroit Philatelic Society, April 8th, 1910, by
Sol. E. Heineman.

In tracing the history of the manufacture of the early Postage Stamps of Great
Britain and Colonies, much attention has been devoted by authors to explain every
detail connected therewith, from the earliest inception of the design through the
various steps necessary to complete the finished product. Thus the peculiar unin-
tentional blueing of the paper in some of the earlier issues, notably those printed by
Perkins, Bacon & Co., has been variously commented upon by several writers, more
recently in Mr. Fred J. Melville's excellent publication on "Line Engraved Stamps
of Great Britain." The opinion of Messrs. Perkins, Bacon & Co., is that the blueing
was probably caused by alum in the printing ink forming some chemical reaction
with the gum on the back of the stamps. Also, there is mentioned Mr. H. S.
Hodson's opinion, that the blue tint was caused by the Ferric Oxide of the printing
ink combining' with other impurities (probably in the paper) to form a blue prussiate.
This quoted opinion of Mr. Hodson appeals to me as being the correct solution of
this much speculated upon peculiarity.

In the manufacture of Empty Gelatin Capsules, (a business in which I have
been interested for some years) it was the usage until about twenty years ago to
employ steel mould pins. These were dipped into an aqueous solution of gelatin,
such adhering to the pin in a coating of sufficient thickness to form, when dry, the
shell from which the finished capsule was evolved. During this drying operation a
slight film of Protoxide of Iron, formed by the contact of the moist gelatin with the
steel mould pin, adhered to the gelatin shell. This film in time formed sesquioxide
of iron (iron rust), giving the capsule an objectionable brownish tinge. This diffi-
culty has since been overcome by using pins made of non-corrosive metal. In order
to counteract this darkening of the gelatin, our chemist suggested adding to the
gelatin solution a slight amount of Yellow Prussiate of Potash (Ferrocyanide of
Potassium) in order to neutralize the Ferric Oxide above mentioned. It was found
•that when the combination was perfect, the gelatin retained its brilliancy. We
shortly discovered, however, that the chemical combination did not always work
exactly right, and in due course of time our firm was asked to redeem lor more
saleable goods a quantity of more or less "blued" capsules, which same goods ap-
peared perfect when shipped from our works several months previous.

From Postage Stamps to Gelatin Capsules seems a far cry, but this incident
possibly may furnish the clue towards definitely clearing up the question of 'blued
paper" varieties. That the blueing of the stamps was caused by a reaction between
the printing ink and the paper and not between ink and gum seems clear.

Fifty years ago or more glue and gelatin, this latter being only a finer grade
of glue, was prepared in iron vessels, now superseded by utensils made of non-
corrosive metal, principally tinned copper. Such products prepared in iron vessels
naturally absorbed more or less Ferric Oxide and developed thus the objectionable
brownish color. In the endeavor to overcome this discoloration, may not the gelatin
maker who furnished the material for sizing this stamp paper have bethought him-
self of the same expedient as did the capsule chemist? All paper makers use gelatin
or glue to size their papers, but no paper makers manufacture their own gelatin.
This is a branch in itself, and if the gelatin maker of that day used a bleach for his
product he would have been very apt to keep the process a secret.

The One Penny red stamps of Great Britain, 1841, and subsequent printings,

14 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

until the change was made to the rose color, were printed with a Ferric Oxide pig-
ment. We find that the blued paper of these stamps is turned brown by Sodium
Hydrate, and when a drop of acid is added to this brown spot, that the brown
discoloration again turns to blue. This surely indicates the presence of Prussian
Blue. That glue may contain Yellow Prussiate of Potash in slight amount is known,
but it is not the case that this chemical is present in Ferric Oxide pigment. If the
normal slight amount of Yellow Prussiate of Potash in the glue sizing is neutralized
by the Ferric Oxide in the pigment, then no bluish discoloration ensues in the paper,
but if the Yellow Prussiate of Potash is present in excess in the sizing, then the
Prussian blue tint will be developed in the paper.

This reaction would satisfactorily explain the partial discoloration of the
stamps, lesser in degree where the pigment was applied less heavily. That this
discoloration is common to early printings by Perkins, Bacon & Co., of Colonial
stamps, such as Cape of Good Hope, Barbados, Trinidad, etc., must make it evident
that the blueish reaction is the same as in the One Penny Great Britain, and that
this reactioxi is one of Ferric Oxide and Yellow Prussiate of Potash, as in no other
way can true Prussian Blue be formed. As soon as the Ferric Oxide pigment is
abandoned by P. B. & Co., it is noted that the blueing of the paper no longj&r
appears. Now, the 3 cent red United States stamp of 1851 is printed also with a
pigment containing Ferric Oxide, but we never see any blued paper specimens of
this stamp. The paper maker who furnished the stock for these stamps also used
gelatin or glue size, but it is evident that the American glue maker did not add any
Yellow Prussiate of Potash to his product, and as there was no excess of this
chemical in the glue sizing there could be in consequence no forming of visible
Prussian Blue. Conceded, that this explanation is plausible as regards the stamps
printed with Ferric Oxide pigment, how about the blueing of the paper of those
stamps which were printed with Blue, Green, or Plum colored inks?

The early blue stamps of Great Britain and Colonies were printed with a Prussian
Blue pigment. Prussian Blue is made from Ferrocyanide of Potassium (Yellow
Prussiate of Potash) and Protoxide of Iron, or Copperas, as it is generally known
commercially. The precipitate which is formed when these two chemicals are com-
bined in solution is then oxidized in the presence of an acid. The resultant product
is then washed repeatedly to remove the uncombined elements. It is, however, the
custom of the manufacturers to use an excess of Ferric Oxide in preparing the color,
and part of this Ferric Oxide still remains in the finished Prussian Blue, for if the
color were over-washed it would become water soluble. The Prussian Blue, thus
containing an excess of Ferric Oxide is used as a base for compounding greens, with
orange or yellow, and in making Plum, Red Brown, or Brown Violet shades by adding
lakes, reds, or madders.

To sum up: We have Ferric Oxide in the printers ink. We also form a Ferric
deposit over the surface of the moistened paper during the act of printing by reason
of contact with the steel plates; the very sensitive gelatin sizing in the paper holding
the slightest film of iron. The slight acidity of the atmosphere is ready to do its
part, and all that is needed is the Yellow Prussiate of Potash. Did the English glue
maker use it? If circumstantial evidence goes for anything, it must appear that he
did. The chemically blued stamps generally show the discoloration in a greenish
tone of blue, if such a term may be used. Many stamps that show blue discoloration,
(not greenish blue) especially on the face, are merely cases of where the Prussian
Blue has become water soluble.

In concluding this article I wish to acknowledge my indebtedness to The Ault &
Wiborg Co., large printing ink manufacturers, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for valuable data
kindly given me, and also for identifying the pigments in a number of specimens of
stamps submitted to them.

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 15

The Leading

American

Dealers

Send Us

Your Want

List

NEW ENGLAND STAMP CO.

12 Bromfield St., Boston, Mass.

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

THE B. L. VOORHEES Auction Business has
been bought and merged in the well=known CLARK'S
AUCTIONS.

"Clark's Auctions"

Are Held Monthly on the

First Saturday in Every Month.

TERMS

Over fifteen hundred bidders know my "selling to" terms, but compara=

tively few of them know my "selling for" terms. I have two

scales of terms, depending on whether you or 1

make up the lots. They are :

20% commission when I do all the work of catalogu-
ing and dividing into lots.

10% commission (minimum charge 35c per lot) when

you mount the lots on slips which I

lurnish free for that purpose.

My Catalogues are written with the utmost care for the interests of both
buyer and seller; my mailing list contains over 2,500 selected names;
the sale is conducted by a state=licensed auctioneer; in short, everything
is done that can be done to make success certain.

If You Have GOOD STAMPS to Sell, WRITE ME.

HUGH M. CLARK,

536 Postal Telegraph Building Chicago, Illinois

Clark's Approval Selections are Noted for Snperb
Condition and Reasonable Price. Write He for a
Selection of the Class Yon Collect.

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

17

WE WISH TO CALL
YOUR ATTENTION

To the several important improvements
recently made in REDFIELD'S STAMP
WEEKLY.

First: All reading matter is now set in

8 pt. type instead of 11 pt. as formerly.
Second : A much higher quality of paper

is now being used.
Third: A New Issue department has

been added.
We invite comparison between our paper

and other weekly stamp publications.
We are putting out a first class paper and

merit the support of all A. P. S.

members.

50 cents pays for
the next 52 issues

The Redfield M. Co.

598 Main St. SMETHPORT, PA.

Auctions=Buy or Sell

We can give you the best of service in
either instance. Did it ever occur to you
that buying stamps in auction sales is the
real and only way to buy your stamps. All
live and up-to-date col ectors are using
this method; and we find that this is the
best way a collector can get the finest
stamps at his own price and be satisfied.
We hold auctions as frequently as twice
a month, with many good desirable stamps
that the average collector is looking for.
Every collector who does not receive our
catalogue should drop us a postal at once.

NET BOOKS

For those who do not buy at auction we
have made up a fine lot of stamps which
average from 60%, 66%%, and 75% from
catalogue. These books contain some
fine bargains.

"WE AIM TO PLEASE."

United Stamp Co.

1151 Marquette Bldg. CHICAGO, ILLS.

18 THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

WARREN H. COLSON

Offers one of the largest and most comprehensive stocks held
by any professional in America and he will be pleased to
enter into correspondence with all

SERIOUS COLLECTORS.

Thousands of varieties from a few cents up to the very
greatest rarities, worth into the thousands of dollars each, are
constantly on view; but throughout this stock, — without
exception the choicest in America, — there is but ONE
quality — the very best.

Here, the collector following almost any line of philatelic
endeavor will find many pieces that are not only beautiful but,
as well, unusual, to delight and satisfy the philatelic craving.

Sole Agents in America for the
PHILATELIC RECORD

(London.)

This paper is now in its 31st consecutive year of publica-
tion and is the oldest and best periodical in the English langu-
age, devoted to Philately.

Subscriptions are received at $1.25 per year, for twelve
numbers, and remittances may be made by Express or P. O.
money order. Personal cheques on any point in North
America accepted at par.

Single sample copy will be mailed on request.

Advertising rates furnished on demand.

184 BOYLSTON STREET,
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

LOCAL AND LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE "BACK BAY 3502/'

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

19

The U. S. STAMPS

have been increasing in demand and appreciating in value. We have a fine stock of these, in-
cluding a splendid line of shades and blocks of four. No less than 53 different selection? of U. S.
stamps alone are now ready to be sent on approval to reliable collectors, willing to spend not less
than $2.00 at a time. Send for circular describing over 160 choice approval selections, including
foreign countries, for medium and advanced collectors. References if unknown to us.

UNUSED STAMPS

1 1847-69, good selections at liberal discounts.

2 1847-73, rarities in finest condition, none listed

under $5.00.

3 1847-82, selected, well centered, o. g. copies for

those who appreciate condition.
4- 1847-88, special bargains at very substantial dis-
counts.

5 1870-82, nice lot, strong in shades.

6 1879-88, shades, fine lot.

7 1899, fine range ot shades.

8 1893, as last, Columbian issue.

9 1893-*98-'01, commemorative Issues, fine line of

shades.
1 9 1 894-98, regular issues, fine shades.
1 1 1898-'01, commemorative, 1-lOc.

12 1901-'07, lc to $1.00, many shades.

13 Department Stamps, unused and used.

14 Same, selected, especially fine copies for those who

appreciate condition.

15 Postage Due Stamps, fine shades.

1 6 Newspaper Stamps, fine selection, all issues.
1 7 Pairs, of regular issues, 1851-90, shades

BLOCK OF FOUR

21 1851-79, many choice pieces.

22 1879-88, good shades.

23 1890, fine lot of shades.

24 1898, lc to 30c in shades.

25 1894, lc to $5.00, splendid shades.

26 1895-98, regular issues, as last.

27 1898-01, commemorative issues.

28 1902-07, fine lot of shades.

29 Departments, splendid selection.
■SO Postage Due, many shades.

31 Newspaper Stamps, a rare lot, all issues.

PROOFS, ESSAYS, ETC.

49 Plate Proofs on India paper or card.

50 Die Proofs, mostly mounted on large cards, as issued.

51 Essays. The 1861-57 issue finished and partly fin-

ished in beautiful colors. Low prices. Also
other interesting things.

J. M. BARTELS COMPANY, ZPZ&Tl:

20

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

Wolsieffer's Large Selections

BEST APPROVAL SYSTEM IN VOGUE.
LEAFLET ABOUT IT ON REQUEST.

Wolsieffer's Approval Cards.

20C. PER DOZ. $1.50 PER 100
DO YOU USE THEM?

P. M. WOLSIEFFER.

STAMP AUCTION SPECIALIST.
401 FT. DEARBORN BLDG. CHICAGO.

Headquarters for U. S.

Wise Collectors are paying attention to the
Stamps of the U. S. The boom is on. Here
are some fillers for your empty spaces

Scott's No. Scott's Price

My Price

334 1909 81.00 purple (initials)

.35

.16

334 1909 81.00 purple no initials

■ 35

.25

333 1909 50c lavender (initials)

.15

.07

331 1909 13c sea green, mint

.18

312 1902 82.00 blue

81.75

81.40

311 1902 $1.00 black

.40

.18

310 1902 50c orange

-18

.08

292 1898 81.00 Omaha

81 50

.90

292 1898 81,00 Omaha mint

82-50

81.50

291 1898 50c Omaha

.35

■ 20

277 1895 82-00 blue

82.00

81.75

276 1895 81.00 black

.50

.20

275 1895 50c orange

.18

.09

240 1893 50e Columbian

.50

.28

238 1893 15c Columbian

.30

.16

228 1890 30c black

.10

.05

189 1879 15c orange

.20

.10

162 1873 12c vielet

.50

.28

153 1870 24c purple

81.50

.75

13 5 1870 2c brown grilled

.18

.10

121 1869 30c blue and carmine

83.00

81.50

100 1867 30c orange, 9x13

84.00

81.95

78 1862 24c lilac

.60

.30

76 1862 5c brown

.50

28

50 1857 10c green

.50

.25

43 1857 3c rose, type I

.25

.12

All Good Conditioned Copies

Postage Extra.

Want lists solicited from A. P. S Members

WENDOVER NEEFUS,

Established 1894. Hudson, N. Y.

MEMBER A. P. S.

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 21

SCOTT STAMP & COIN CO.

Established 1860

FIRST PUCE AMONG AMERICAN STAMP DEALERS

Publishers of the Scott Stand-
ard Catalogue, Postage Stamp
Albums for all classes of collect-
ors, and Philatelic Books of Ref-
erence. An immense stock of
United States and Foreign Post-
age Stamps.

Illustrated price list of publica-
tions, packets, sets, etc., sent
free on application.

SCOTT STAMP & COIN CO.

127 Madison Ave., NEW YORK

ti

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST.

WE ARE NOW SELLING

The

P. F. Bruner

Collection

(Cataloguing over $100,000.00)

at PRIVATE SALE

DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY

To Fill Your Vacant
Spaces

SEND US YOUR LIST

Nassau Stamp Co., Ltd.

231 Broadway, New York City

United States Our Specialty

We have a complete stock of United States
Postage, Revenues, Departments, Dues,
etc., and we solicit your want lists and or-
ders. We are especially strong on issues
1890 to date in mint condition in a fine range
of SHADES, uncatalogued varieties, and
now is the time to fill in on them while they
can be had reasonable. We also have a fine
line of Blocks. Send us a trial want list.

Price list of United States and Foreign Stamps
and Sets Free on request, 1910 edition. It in-
cludes many U. S. Shades.

2c Green paper, inverted head Washington, Scott's No.
2966, finest copies $2.25 each.

U. S. 2c varieties 1890 to 1903. 16 var. classified, 35c.

Sizes
%x %

Per Per

1000 5000

$0.05 $0.20

.10 .45

.15 .65

ECONOMIST

HINGE

THEBEST PEELABLE HINQE MADE

ECONOMIST STAMP CO.

79 Nassau St., New York City

THE AMERICAN PHILATELIST. 23

When in Chicago visit

FRED MICHAEL & BRO.

72 Dearborn St.

Chicago's only store devoted to stamps and
coins exclusively. Can we send you some on
approval.

"BEST BY TEST"

The International Stamp Co.

18 WEST LONG STREET,

COLUMBUS, OHIO.

ALL FIVE DIRECTORS A. P. S. MEMBERS.

Results Count

Book No. 467, Value $38.36, Sold $34.53.

Book No. 199, Value $ 9.25, Sold $ 8.72.

Book No. 126, Value $ 6.98, Sold $ 6.20.

Book No. 23, Value $ 4.82, Sold $ 3 64.

Book No. 204, Value $ 3.37, Sold $ 2 23.

Book No. 27, Value $58.53, Sold $43.05.

These Books were all circulated in Mutual Stamp
Exchange to A. P. S. Members, and the above re=
suits were obtained.

Why don't you use this Exchange? It is for A. P.
S. Hembers only, so send in for rules, or better
still, send 25 cents for 6 blank books.

C. I. GREENE,

box 142. LEOMINSTER, MASS.

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES

3 9088 00822 7647